Use workplace knowledge, skills and attitudes to deliver Victim Empowerment ServicesRationaleVictims in South Africa are numerous and widespread across all regions and communities. This Unit Standards-Based Qualification should enable learners in affected communities to understand issues faced by victims, to provide victim support, to identify resources and services available in the community and to utilise these appropriately.
One of the key challenges in victim empowerment in South Africa is to develop a set of minimum standards and standardised training for service providers. Service providers include government departments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOS), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) that provide direct services to victims and perpetrators of crime, victims of violence, victims of torture, etc.
Training in the Victim Empowerment Sector is provided under the generic title of Victim Empowerment, but includes various components such as education and awareness, advocacy, medico-legal services, court support, court preparation, legal advice, victim support (i.e. emotional support, practical assistance and information), trauma counselling, psychological support, in-patient care, etc)
Training is therefore personalised according to trainees’ profiles (professional background, literacy level, etc.) Trainees are as diverse as police officials, nurses (forensic, psychiatric, primary health care), volunteers, lay counsellors, etc. In all cases, generic and specific training “modules” are offered.
Many areas of peri-urban and rural South Africa cannot be reached by mental health professionals such as psychologists, social workers, etc. As a result of the scarcity of this kind of worker in these areas, Victim Empowerment services in communities are primarily volunteer driven, with volunteers working under the auspices of recognised mental health professionals, NGOs, CBOs and FBOs established to meet specific community needs.
The key role of Victim Empowerment service providers is to improve the quality of life of community members by providing improved access to and delivery of Victim Empowerment services at local level within the context of an inter-sectoral environment.
Access to formal education/Qualifications is limited, with current access only through formal social work and psychology degrees. Many people working in community projects, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs have been providing essential services in their community without formal training or Qualifications. Despite considerable experience and insight without an entry-level Qualification, they are unable to gain entry into the field of Victim Empowerment and to access career paths in Victim Empowerment and related sub-fields.
This Qualification in Victim Empowerment was therefore designed to provide a much-needed entry-level Qualification for victim empowerment practitioners and volunteers. This will enable learners already working in the field to receive recognition and to have access to formally developed career paths similar to Victim Support in United Kingdom with an established sector with a range of career opportunities for practitioners.
